Toilet seat cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat cover assembly includes a panel including a central section with a first arm and a second arm each attached to and extending away from a front edge of the central section. The first and second arms are spaced from each other and each has a distal end with respect to the central section. The panel has a top side and a bottom side and the bottom side is substantially planar. The central section has a break therein extending through the front edge and a rear edge of the central section to define a pair of central ends. A central hinge is attached to the central section and hingedly couples together the central ends. The central hinge is positioned on the bottom side of the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to reusable sanitary toilet seat cover devices and more particularly pertains to a new reusable sanitary toilet seat cover device for allowing a person to cover and sit on a public toilet seat.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel including a central section with a first arm and a second arm each attached to and extending away from a front edge of the central section. The first and second arms are spaced from each other and each has a distal end with respect to the central section. The panel has a top side and a bottom side and the bottom side is substantially planar. The central section has a break therein extending through the front edge and a rear edge of the central section to define a pair of central ends. A central hinge is attached to the central section and hingedly couples together the central ends. The central hinge is positioned on the bottom side of the panel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective in-use view of a toilet seat cover assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new reusable sanitary toilet seat cover device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the toilet seat cover assembly 10 generally comprises a panel 12 that includes a central section 14 with a first arm 16 and a second arm 18 each attached to and extending away from a front edge 20 of the central section 14. The first 16 and second 18 arms are spaced from each other and each has distal ends 22 with respect to the central section 14. The panel 12 has a top side 24 and a bottom side 26. The bottom side 26 is substantially planar and a peripheral edge 28 of the panel 12 between the top 24 and bottom 26 sides may be convexly arcuate. The first 16 and second 18 arms each have an inner edge 30 facing each other. The inner edges 30 each are concavely arcuate from the central section 14 to the distal ends 22. The distal ends 22 may be angled such that they face each other and are spaced from each other. In this manner the panel 12 has the shape and size of a conventional toilet seat 32, and in particular as such might be found in a public restroom. The panel 12 may be comprised of any conventional material, rigid material, though plastic or metal may be preferred.

The central section 14 has a break 34 therein extending through the front edge 20 and a rear edge 36 of the central section 14 to define a pair of central ends 38 where they meet. A central hinge 40 is attached to the central section 14 and hingedly couples together the central ends 38. The central hinge 40 is positioned on the bottom side 26 of the panel 12. This allows the central section 14 to be folded onto itself in a stored position such that the bottom sides 26 of portions formed by the break 34 in the central section 14 abut each other.

Each of the first 16 and second 18 arms may each have a break 42 therein also which extends through an outer edge 44 and the inner edge 30 of an associated one of the first 16 and second 18 arms to define a pair of arm ends 46 in each of the first 16 and second 18 arms. A pair of arm hinges 48 is provided and each of the first 16 and second 48 arms has one of the arm hinges 48 coupled thereto. The arm hinges 48 hingedly couple together an associated pair of the arm ends 46. Each of the arm hinges 48 is positioned on the bottom side 26. As with the central section 14, the first 16 and second 18 arms are foldable into a stored position such that arm portions formed by the breaks 42 have there bottom sides 26 abutting each other. It should be understood that the assembly 10 may only include one break in the central section 14 or a pair of breaks, one each of the first 16 and second 18 arms.

A plurality of toilet seat engaging members 50 is attached to the bottom side 26.

Each of the first 16 and second 18 arms has at least one of the toilet seat engaging members 50 attached thereto. However, a total of at least four engaging members 50 are preferred to stabilize the assembly 10 during usage. The toilet seat engaging members 50 are configured to frictionally engage a toilet seat 32 to prevent panel 12 movement during usage. Each of the toilet seat engaging members 50 may comprise a foamed elastomeric material.

A satchel 52 may be provided that has a size and shape configured for receiving the panel 12 when each of the central section 14 and the first 16 and second 18 arms are folded into a stored position. The satchel 52 may specifically be sized if one, two or three breaks 34, 42 are utilized. A strap 54 is attached to the satchel 52 for carrying.

In use, the assembly 10 is typically brought with a person while traveling and taken into public restrooms when a public toilet is to be used. The user places the assembly 10 on the toilet seat 32 so that it overlaps the toilet seat 32 and then sits upon the assembly 10. Thus, the user need not sit directly on the toilet seat 32. The assembly 10 may be folded for easy storage when not in usage and cleaned between usages as needed.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A toilet seat cover assembly configured for positioning on a toilet seat to shield a toilet user from the toilet seat, said assembly comprising: a panel including a central section and a first arm and a second arm being attached to and extending away from a front edge of said central section, said first and second arms being spaced from each other and having distal ends with respect to said central section, said panel having a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side being substantially planar; and said central section having a break therein extending through said front edge and a rear edge of said central section to define a pair of central ends, a central hinge being attached to said central section and hingedly coupling together said central ends, said central hinge being positioned on said bottom side of said panel; a plurality of toilet seat engaging members being attached to said bottom side, each of said first and second arms having at least one of said toilet seat engaging members attached thereto, said toilet seat engaging members being configured to frictionally engage a toilet seat, each of said toilet engaging members being elongated and having a planar distal surface relative to said bottom side of said panel, said distal surface of each said toilet seat engaging member being parallel to said bottom side of said panel.
 2. The toilet seat cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral edge of said panel between said top and bottom sides is convexly arcuate.
 3. The toilet seat cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first and second arms each have an inner edge facing each other, said inner edges each being concavely arcuate from said central section to said distal ends.
 4. The toilet seat cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second arms having a break therein extending through an outer edge and said inner edge of an associated one of said first and second arms to define a pair of arm ends in each of said first and second arms, a pair of arm hinges being provided and each of said first and second arms having one of said arm hinges coupled thereto, each of said arm hinges hingedly coupling together an associated pair of said arm ends, each of said hinges being positioned on said bottom side.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The toilet seat cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said toilet seat engaging members comprises a foamed elastomeric material.
 7. The toilet seat cover assembly according to claim 1, further including a satchel having a size and shape configured for receiving said panel when said central section is folded into a stored position.
 8. A toilet seat cover assembly configured for positioning on a toilet seat to shield a toilet user from the toilet seat, said assembly comprising: a panel including a central section and a first arm and a second arm being attached to and extending away from a front edge of said central section, said first and second arms being spaced from each other and having distal ends with respect to said central section, said panel having a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side being substantially planar, a peripheral edge of said panel between said top and bottom sides being convexly arcuate; said first and second arms each having an inner edge facing each other, said inner edges each being concavely arcuate from said central section to said distal ends, said distal ends facing each other and being spaced from each other; said central section having a break therein extending through said front edge and a rear edge of said central section to define a pair of central ends, a central hinge being attached to said central section and hingedly coupling together said central ends, said central hinge being positioned on said bottom side of said panel; each of said first and second arms having a break therein extending through an outer edge and said inner edge of an associated one of said first and second arms to define a pair of arm ends in each of said first and second arms, a pair of arm hinges being provided and each of said first and second arms having one of said arm hinges coupled thereto, each of said arm hinges hingedly coupling together an associated pair of said arm ends, each of said hinges being positioned on said bottom side; a plurality of toilet seat engaging members being attached to said bottom side, each of said first and second arms having at least one of said toilet seat engaging members attached thereto, said toilet seat engaging members being configured to frictionally engage a toilet seat, each of said toilet seat engaging members comprising a foamed elastomeric material, each of said toilet engaging members being elongated and having a planar distal surface relative to said bottom side of said panel, said distal surface of each said toilet seat engaging member being parallel to said bottom side of said panel; and a satchel having a size and shape configured for receiving said panel when each of said central section and said first and second arms are folded into a stored position. 